Congressman fell from grace quickly

Feb. 11, 2011 12:00 AMAssociated Press

WASHINGTON - He was a rising star in Congress at lunchtime and out of office by dinner.

Rep. Christopher Lee fell from power this week with a velocity seldom seen in the annals of Washington sex scandals, a blinking red caution sign for those who need one that the speed and reach of the Internet can crash a political career in the time it takes to push a button.

The now-famous photo of a shirtless Lee, R-N.Y., moved across cyberspace at 2:33 p.m. Washington time Wednesday, for just about anyone who wanted to see it. Three hours later, Lee resigned.

What happened in between on Capitol Hill remains unclear. But Republicans, still scrambling for their footing less than two months after assuming control of the House, insisted that Lee, who is married and has a young son, didn't need to be pushed.

"Congressman Lee made his own decision that he thought was in his own best interest and the interest of his family," House Speaker John Boehner said. He refused to discuss any contact he might have had with Lee, saying only that he became aware of the issue after the photo appeared online Wednesday and then learned of Lee's resignation after 6 p.m.

"I think he made the right decision for himself and for his family," Boehner said.

Boehner's 5-week-old Republican majority, of course, benefited from Lee's exit and the distraction that largely departed with him. Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, reported last summer that the Ohio Republican had warned Lee and other newer members of Congress to halt unseemly partying with female lobbyists.

Lee, 46, was moving quickly up the House Republican ranks after winning the seat in 2008 despite a Democratic wave nationwide. A successful businessman, last month he won a coveted seat on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee after only one term in office.